Arming the Lion of Judah: Ethiopian FN Mauser Rifles & Carbines

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In 1930, Haile Selassie I became Emperor of Ethiopia (aka Abysinia), and would rule for almost 45 years, with a brief exception when the country was occupied by fascist Italy. During that time, he paid particular attention to Ethiopia’s military strength. As part of his coronation celebration he toured Europe, including the factory works at FN in Belgium. Selassie developed a good relationship with the Belgians, and in the mid 1930s he would place several orders for arms and equipment from FN (and also hired Belgian military advisors to help train his army). In particular, Ethiopia purchased 17,500 FN Model 1930 rifles and 7,500 Model 1930 carbines, which we are looking at here.
The Ethiopian guns are basically identical mechanically to standard 1898 Mausers. The Ethiopian carbines are unusual in not having side mounted sling attachments, and they have a unique serial number placement. In order that the numbers could be read while the guns were in racks, the serial numbers are in very large numerals on the receiver bridge, not alongside the chamber as typical. Both rifle and carbine also have a distinctive Ethiopian crest on the receivers. Because Ethiopia did not have the technical expertise to proof the guns themselves, they hired the Belgian military to do so on their behalf; a service that FN and Belgium offered at the time.
Thanks to InterOrdnance for giving me access to these rifles to bring to you!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@williamwoodrow6556]

That “shield” is really the Crown of the Emperor of Ethiopia.

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

Apologies, I hadn't seen your comment when I wrote the same thing.

[@williamwoodrow6556]

Shane K. Probably not but I think I would. The emperor kept 40 lions in the palace and a dozen pet small dogs in his rooms. He was very religious and led his people in a way he felt God would want.

[@MisterCOM]

@@williamwoodrow6556 he also had lots of slaves

[@Lowlandlord]

@Apsorrus von Lötzing There were a bunch of other Orthodox churches that treated them with respect. They also got along with Muslims and Jews. When Mohammed was seeking shelter from the Pagans of Medina he stayed in Ethiopia. The ruling dynasty of Ethiopia for most of history was the Solomonic dynasty, claims descent from King Solomon. Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations on the planet, but they always had a strong Jewish representation and they never got into the Blood Libel bullshit. Russia was trying to push their own thing too, Defender of the Orthodox Faith, part of why they kept strong ties with Serbia and got into WW1. Not the first war they intervened in to defend Orthodox Serbia or the Balkans. Actually, there is a fair bit of PR out there about modern Russia being Defenders of the Orthodox Faith in Syria. Anyways, was gonna point it out myself. The Western (Catholic and later Protestant) crown is largely based on the Mural Crown, with the crenellations and things. Later on we get things more like King Edward's Crown, the muffin shape (not sure where that comes from). In the Eastern Orthodox world the crown tended to be straight walled as it were, some were a series of plates with religions iconography. The original royal crowns were probably just circlets, and then everyone went in a few different directions. Anyways, you can see it in Haile Selassie's coronation photo's, looks a bit like a gilded coffee can with a cross on top.

[@fsiradio]

I love the stories behind these rifles, the more 'obscure' countries and armies. Thank you Ian.

[@GA-br8wj]

This makes me want to replay Civ V as Haile Selassie, again

[@tankadar]

Civ V was epic

[@christianweibrecht6555]

His bonus is great against AI that build a bazillion cities "most of them"

[@seanhall8686]

@@christianweibrecht6555 The Stele is great as well, nice early game bonus.

[@RaidsEpicly]

make sure rome and venice are in the game for you to slap around a bit too!

[@Discotekh_Dynasty]

Gustavo Alonso play Ethiopia in EU4, its great fun

[@simonholdsworth6867]

Interesting that in the early 1920s the Mauser 98 was considered the state of the art for military rifles - yet only 15 or so years later the Garand came out. A big step up in technology!

[@AxisPeter]

FN nowadays is owned for a big part by the Walloon government (South, French-speaking, Belgium). The Walloon government now also approve/disapprove all sales to foreign nations. Couples of years back they didn't allow a contract of FN weapons to go to Saudi-Arabia for example.

[@Lowlandlord]

And that had nothing to do with Saudia Arabia financing international terrorism and waging a war in which they are murdering innocent civilians? Walloonia is also the sole owner of the Herstal Group, the parent company of FN, has been since the '90s. FN is based out of Herstal, which is in Walloonia, so that makes a lot of sense.

[@ZGryphon]

Now all I can think of is that bit from the old _M*A*S*H_ episode: WOUNDED ETHIOPIAN SOLDIER: (speaking Amharic) KLINGER: I think he's thanking you. HAWKEYE: Well, that's Haile Selassie of you, sir.

[@nolanmcevoy2547]

Dude it’s so short and handy and probably shoots huge fireballs...... now I want one

[@criffermaclennan]

The Italians resorted to using mustard gas in abyssinia...that whole era is fascinating

[@homeopathicfossil-fuels4789]

It was even a proxy war between nazi germany and italy under mussolinni, what the fuck lol

[@drpsionic]

The Italians were surpised that sending in the Bersaglieri to tickle the Ethiopians into submission with their chicken feather boas did not work.

[@littlearsehole75]

Partially related (?) Abyssinian cats are sweet and very affectionate.

[@samhansen9771]

_until you give them a mauser_

[@Taistelukalkkuna]

@@samhansen9771 Would that make it cat and mauser game?

[@allangibson8494]

Abyssinian cats are mad keen mousers (except for the ones that prefer hunting rabbits). (We have had eight - six mousers and two rabbiters).

[@Bloodreign137]

I’ve been seeing so many Mauser videos lately and it makes me so unbelievably excited to pick up my Mauser 98 on Friday! Thanks for the great info as always Ian

[@thesturm8686]

Sweet, what kind of mauser is it?

[@Bloodreign137]

Hauptmann Sturm I’m not entirely sure other than it’s a 98 with a 23 in barrel so not a carbine! I won it in an auction and am looking forward to seeing it in person. It looks really clean and has “AF” in a crest stamped on the receiver and the date 1954 under it. A friend told me it might be a Turkish rebuild but I’m looking for any info I can get www.proxibid.com/Firearms-Military-Artifacts/Firearms/MAUSER-MODEL-98/lotInformation/52062358&rfpb=0#Top

[@zacharyrollick6169]

I'm looking at a beautiful Model 1908 Brazilian contract rifle, made by DWM. $550, all bluing intact. Buy?

[@futuresonex]

I'm not certain about this, but I think that the 'shield' on the national crest is actually the Ark of the Covenant, which is supposedly still in Ethiopia.

[@paulmanson253]

That was about to be my response,almost word for word. There are several arks, in several churches. Whether representative of the original or a way to hide the original from Islam,which it fought for centuries,I cannot say,but the image is/was central to the culture. The clerics do not allow any nonclerics to see,so a quiet mystery. Beautiful crest.

[@kenibnanak5554]

@@paulmanson253 In the Bible the Ark had an interesting history and it was re-manufactured several times. So, it is possible one of the variants possibly containing a piece of the original one can be found in several places.

[@paulmanson253]

@@kenibnanak5554 Now that was downright interesting. Thanks for passing it on.

[@nicholsoik371]

its in government storage

[@cornkobmansanto17]

I wondered if it was a Muslim prayer rug. But I guess it was a Christian gov’t at that time?

[@derekwilkins4973]

I'm hoping for a corroboration with Ian's Rastafarian counterpart: Gun Haile Selassie.

[@davidbrennan660]

He is Righteoooouuuuuussssss!

[@thelegendaryklobb2879]

OMG, Ian with dreadlocks... *shivers*

[@rashawk]

As a Rasta I approve of this, that would be awesome

[@primuspilusfellatus6501]

@@rashawk A rasta on a gun channel? That's not something you see everyday.

[@bruhment1068]

Gun Jah

[@havokmusicinc]

The Ethiopians are a very proud people. That they came together and fought off the Italians - as tribes armed with spears, as they say it - is a huge source of national identity for them. While many will decry the country's state in the last 50 years, especially regarding the Eritrea mess, those years in the late 19th century are definitely thought of as the Good Ole Days.

[@billbrasky6827]

Havok Their food is amazing too in my opinion. If you've never had it, it is worth a go.

[@royalsoldierofdrangleic4577]

I'm pretty sure that the "tribe armed with spears" story is just trowing shit on Italy more than glorifying Ethiopia. Ethiopians were much better armed than any other african nation or tribe.

[@qpon66]

I’m not even an Ethiopian but at a cursory glance at the history I feel like this riffs off outdated stereotypes about Africa a bit too much. Ethiopia was a civilization and a state in the same way as many Eurasian civilizations. The Ge’ez script used to write Ethiopian dates back to the 1st century AD. Ethiopia and its predecessor states were literate, Christian polities for far, far longer than most of Europe. They had gunpowder weapons for centuries before the encounter with Italy because they - Ethiopians and the Horn of Africa in general - were a key part of the maritime Silk Road from China to India to Africa, literally for millennia. As an Indian, I can only say that I am in awe of the unity of the people and the nation (which incorporated so many disparate ethnic groups) in their resistance to colonization. The Ethiopians weren’t tribes with spears fending off some scary, new threat. They had diplomatic relations with Italy, as the Roman Empire, at a time when England, France, and Germany were home to tribes armed with spears. I wish the best for all Ethiopians, especially in these current difficult times.

[@alien_marksman]

Interesting to learn of the Ethiopian FN Mauser 98 Carbine. I have a Colombian FN Mauser 98 Carbine in my collection, chambered for 30-06.

[@williamsullivan9401]

A friend bought one years ago. Rough on the outside, but the bore looked new. Shot MOA groups, too.

[@alien_marksman]

@@williamsullivan9401 I wish the bore of mine was that good. Mine has been shot out, and needs replacing. The Action, Stock, and Furniture are still solid

[@williamsullivan9401]

@@alien_marksman See if Criterion makes a barrel for it. I bought a Criterion barrel from the CMP for my 1903, and paid $200 for it. Another $150 to a gunsmith to install, and I'm good for another 75 years.

[@alien_marksman]

@@williamsullivan9401 Cheers mate, I'll do some shopping.

[@ChiefMiddleFinger]

Mmmmmm......more bolt gun goodness and a history lesson to boot. What's not to like 👍

[@reiisthebestgirl]

Always happy to see well used firearms.

[@welshskies]

Ian's interpretation of the history of this part of Africa a bit unusual. The British did send a military force into Ethiopia in the 1860s but it was a punitive action not an invasion of conquest. During the "Scramble for Africa" of the 1880s, the Conference of Berlin and years that followed the British showed little or no desire to intervene in Ethiopia (Abyssinia) as it was of little strategic interest, they also embargoed arms sales to the area. When Haile Salassie fled following the Italian invasion of his country in the 1930s it was to the UK he went. The British eventually invaded Ethiopia in 1941 but only as a response to the seizure of British Somaliland by the Italian military after Mussolini declared war against Britain and France in 1940.

[@kevinoliver3083]

Ians a francophile. And seems to have absorbed their perception of colonial history.

[@billmccrackin8825]

Thanks for showing the rifles. Interesting Hx too.

[@davidwallace5738]

Great video sir. Thank you for posting.

[@anthonyhayes1267]

I've been hunting for one of these obsessively

[@john-paulsilke893]

Anthony Hayes well now you have your choice of 70,000 of them. From wall hangers to slightly better then wall hangers.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Classic Firearms can hook you up for $2,000

[@anthonyhayes1267]

@@john-paulsilke893 Yeah, I honestly feel like giving up. It's just not a realistic goal

[@blaisechalmers1464]

Just a little correction: Britain did not help that much in Abyssinia. South Africa was sent in to clean the Italians out. I know this for a fact because my Great grandfather was an engineer in the 1st South African Infantry Division. Keep up the brilliant work though, Ian💪🏻

[@johnfisk811]

Er, not quite. South Africa made a very useful contribution to the liberation of Ethiopia indeed, and well done your great grandfather and his fellows, but much of the forces were from the Indian and British armies together with the Ethiopians and assorted local colonial forces..

[@nunyabidniz2868]

Regardless, the cache of Italian weapons ended up under the control of the British headquarters in Cairo and proved essential in the North African campaign since until the U.S. Ordnance liason/observer showed up & told them they were sitting on a stockpile of ammo that would fit their SMLE's just fine, the Brits were running low on the means to supply the infantry defending their positions [amazing, isn't it, just how useless a rifle can be w/o ammo?.. ;-) ] Other hilarity ensued when the same officer solved the defective fusing problem encountered in the ammo for the 75mm cannon in the M3 tanks used in that campaign as well. IIRC, Ian did an episode on that pivotal character a few years back? Anyway, it's a perfect example of why I maintain that WW2 was the last conflict in which a single individual had an overwhelming impact on the resolution of said conflict, & ergo, the subsequent outcome of world history...

[@johnfisk811]

@@nunyabidniz2868 Yes the 7.7mm Breda was the same as .303 IIRC. The 8mm Breda was rimless. The 6.5mm Carcanos of AOL went off to India for defence for the Indian Army and thence for training. The Indians then going on to make their own 6.5 Carcano ammunition My father was involved in transporting 75mm ammunition captured from the French from Syria to Egypt to be matched up with captured German 75mm AP for use in M3s..

[@welshskies]

@@johnfisk811 In WW2 my father was in The Royal Signals in Narvik, when Norway fell to the Germans in May 1940, he was evacuated on a troop ship which travelled to Durban via Freetown and Cape Town. After a short stay in Durban he was embarked on a another ship up the coast to Mombasa and then overland across Kenya to Ethiopia. After fighting in the Ethiopian Campaign he was sent on up to Egypt to join the 8th Army in the desert later in 1941, he travelled from the Arctic to Alexandria via South Africa and Abyssinia still wearing the same Arctic warfare kit he had been issued with in April 1940. He eventually got a hot weather uniform in time for the famous North Africa Campaign and that was just the start of my father's war time travels. He told me he carried a Thompson sub-machine gun and a "liberated" Beretta pistol

[@jovangrbic97]

@@nunyabidniz2868 Any chance you can remember the name of the guy or the video he occurs in, I'd be interested to hear the story.

[@robashton8606]

It's "crowned". Coronated means something else.

[@leonardoglesby1730]

Yup! "Crowned" is the past tense of the verb "crown". "Coronation", a noun, is the ceremony of crowning a sovereign. "Coronated" is a non-word.

[@robashton8606]

@@leonardoglesby1730 No, coronated is something crown shaped or something that has been rendered crown shaped. Like crenellated or corrugated. It's a word, just not in this context.

[@leonardoglesby1730]

@@robashton8606 Agreed. That is using coronated as an adjective, However, coronated used as the past tense of a verb is a non-word. The verb would be "to crown", the past tense of which would simply be "crowned".

[@robashton8606]

@@leonardoglesby1730 We appear to be going in circles now.

[@nothankyou4859]

I wonder if my grandfather who served in ethiopia ran into any of these. I wish his photographs were clearer!

[@peterthompson4851]

Hi Ian. In this context, the verb is crowned. We have them over here in UK occasionally.

[@MatthewDoye]

I've started hearing Americans saying this instead of crowned, it's weird.

[@christopher9000ish]

have you thought about doing several mini series about different small arms and more specific stories about their use in different battles?

[@jacobriddle7230]

Look on Amazon he has some

[@kenny344]

Check out C&Rsenal

[@christopher9000ish]

@@jacobriddle7230 i didnt know that he sold any books on them. i was more wondering if he was interested in doing videos about the use of the guns

[@jacobriddle7230]

@@christopher9000ish he has some videos on Amazon he has only written one book that I know of.

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

@@christopher9000ish he has several books . never read one but i understand they are very well researched and very well written.

[@mattberry4457]

i wonder what they looked like before the wire brush hit them and what the inside must look like.

[@brasstard7.627]

Could be wire brushed, they hired locals to clean them before crating them up for transport to the US

[@BlackCoinCrypto]

I've always had a fetish for short little things, that Mauser carbine fits the bill exactly. Thanks Ian. Btw that's an awesome looking Crest.

[@KAKADOUJACK]

Damnit Ian, you're making my mouth water. This has been one of my ultimate collector fantasies for a long time, and InterOrdnance is already sold out of both carbines and rifles. My dreams are dashed.

[@AdMan-The-LabRat]

20200708@11:30 EST: I'm looking at 3 (three) right now that are listed for $999.99-$1,999.99 "FN 1924 8mm Mauser Carbine Ethiopian Contract Super Rare" www.royaltigerimports.com/product-p/maus0011.htm Plus there's more. There are also 5 (five) and another 4 (four) "Super Rare" rifles... Good luck! P.S. The Fine Gentleman even made a video to show them to us (like 5 days ago. )

[@shawnr771]

Thanks for the history lesson. Nice rifles.

[@cristianvillanueva8782]

Wow that Crest is fucking beautiful would love to see one in pristine condition

[@ScottKenny1978]

Oh, man, I really want one of those carbines with a good crest on it...

[@SayakMajumder]

Nice video Ian! Hey are you going to do a video on the Maxim - Tokarev LMG?

[@Willy_Tepes]

Hailie Selassie I, Jah Ras Tafari.

[@broken6747]

Wonderful short rifle....!

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@rasapplepipe]

What you called a shield is actually a crown.

[@charles_wipman]

I really like the carbine, remind me of the CETME FR8, maybe even smaller.

[@peterg3323]

First rate video. Great pieces of history.

[@brunoratto253]

That crest looks awesome! It makes an already awesome gun even more awesome! It's such a shame that the practice of marking military small arms with national crests is falling by the wayside. They give the guns marked with it an identity, a sense of purpose. Oh, well... Great video as always Ian!

[@AsbestosMuffins]

really makes you question the history book take on ethiopia's military strength going into ww2

[@Buzz-vz2js]

Question everything

[@rabeandre2]

@@Buzz-vz2js Why?

[@ThexXxXxOLOxXxXx]

@@rabeandre2 Because history is written by the victors isn't that reason enough?

[@AutismIsUnstoppable]

As I understand it wasn't so much poor quality troops or poor equipment. It was more that the Ethiopians were not prepared to deal with mustard gas and armoured vehicles.

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

The "shield" is the crown of the Ethiopian Emperor, which is a tall, broadly cylindrical shape.

[@starfleethastanks]

Can I just say I love the national crests on the Mausers?

[@papoosah2408]

Ian, could you try to get a hold of a Barrett M82A2? It’s a prototype bull pup version of the M82A1

[@CeltKnight]

There's just something about short barreled bolt-action rifles that appeals to me. I know all the negatives, but I just LIKE the shorter barrelled carbines.

[@psinno]

Fun fact - Ethiopia abolished slavery in 1942. Between 20% and 35% of Ethiopians were slaves.

[@user-eu5yb8tq9u]

Actually, interestingly enough, efforts by the Ethiopian emperors to abolish slavery go back to the 1850's with Tewodros II. If I recall correctly, Menelik punished slavery with amputation. However, it is true that it wasn't completely abolished until the 40's.

[@andymelaku4218]

@@user-eu5yb8tq9u The first time it was abolished was by Emperor Gälawdèwos in 1548. But it managed to survive till the 1940's and even then most slaves refused to leave as they had nowhere to go and it didn't die off till the 60's.

[@904sounds5]

Ian, does the long variant in this video have the intermediate length receiver like on the Yugoslav pattern M24?

[@comradesomo]

What the Derg did to Selassie, the royal family, and the whole of Ethiopia was utterly despicable.

[@shawnr771]

@Truthbetold Fascism.

[@shoelaze128]

mate if you think derg is the first bad thing to roll into ethopia youre ignoring like 50 years of history. the italians literally gassed the dudes holding these guns in 1936

[@havokmusicinc]

@Truthbetold The Italians were corporatist fascists. Much more in line with the America of today than the USSR of the past, though of course America is not a dictatorship like Italy was.

[@billbrasky6827]

Havok We are quickly getting there thanks to people letting guys from their own party get away with constitutional violations.

[@erikm12]

lol k

[@M.C.Darkness]

I love this series, I managed to buy an Ethiopian Officers sword used during the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in the 1930's from IMA.

[@dagimgirma7693]

n response to the first defeat at Amba Alage(some place in Ethiopia) students from the University of Rome marched through the street chanting "Viva Menelik!"

[@bennelson6440]

So on a related note, what is the connection, if any, between FN Model 24s and the CZ VZ.24 Rifles? They seem quite similar in many design aspects, and I wonder if that is coincidental or not.

[@kukajin9560]

i got my first mauser not long ago, a chinese FN mauser and i was wondering if the bayonet lugs are the same on the FN productions like the german made mausers.

[@uha6477]

The Ethiopians were particularly unable to do much against chemical weapons either sadly.

[@Tobe-gg4df]

You should do the ppsh 41, it's my favorite gun (unless you have already done it)

[@Idelacio]

lol I like the irony of the British covetting Ethiopia only to be the ones who end up liberating them. But by then the British were at the point of realising empire was more trouble than it was worth.

[@nindger4270]

More like realising they weren't able to keep the Empire together anymore.

[@welshskies]

My dad fought in the British campaign in Ethiopia in WW2.

[@welshskies]

Britain and its empire had very complicated and varied relationships, a great deal of its territory was viewed as being under temporary custodianship.

[@welshskies]

@@nindger4270 Sort of, but the Atlee government in 1945 was moving towards a policy of decolonisation anyway. Britain was militarily strong but financially week so the policy of long term decolonisation which had been lurking in the background since 1900 was accelerated. The background of The Cold War, the rise of nationalism and domestic public opinion meant that Britain did not want to continue.

[@80krauser]

They moved towards an economic and academic empire where they ran the money and the colleges/universities. Better PR that way

[@joshuahjfarquharm.3269]

Its crazy to me that not only Judaism thrived independently in Ethiopia but Christianity...In a weird way they preserved things and ideas that got lost in the Great Schism a thousand years ago. Reading about the first and second invasions of Abyssinia by Italy (trying to re-build the roman empire) is a really crazy story... not un-like the Japanese. A nearly Ancient society coming to grips with the modern west.

[@JB-rt4mx]

ps...the shield marking could also be Haile Sellasie's Crown

[@bill154cub]

What year is the fn carbine? I have a fn barreled action in 7.65x53 or 54 with a 19.375” barrel.

[@antischematicphiloso]

Great historical review! One question: In your video you show the short (37") and mid-length (43") Ethiopian Mauser rifles but no mention of the full length (49") rifles. Curiously, my Mauser book doesn't show or mention the full length either. None of my books do. However, I know they exist due to the instances of them for sale (with pictures) alongside the 2 shorter variants. Do you happen to have any information about the 49" full length variant of the Ethiopian Mauser?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

To the best of my knowledge there was no long version.

[@antischematicphiloso]

@@ForgottenWeapons As far as pictures are concerned, these listings from Royal Tiger Imports are the best I can provide. If the links don't post, then go to their site and then C&R firearms. Out of 22 listings, 4 are Ethiopian, 1 of which is a Czech k9k. The links to the other 3 Mausers are: 49" full length www.royaltigerimports.com/product-p/maus0012.htm 43" mid length www.royaltigerimports.com/product-p/maus0005.htm 37" short version www.royaltigerimports.com/product-p/maus0011.htm Let me know what you think. Recommend the large photos.

[@joshual4039]

@@antischematicphiloso I was curious to that as well and was wondering if you managed to dig anything new up on the 49" variant.

[@CarterG4Y]

I saw a Lee Enfield at a pawn shop with similar numbering on the stock, but in green instead of yellow - no idea what they mean, though

[@birukgetachew7126]

That rifle is legend

[@moosemaimer]

Selling guns to big cats that double as religious metaphors? So that's why Karl goes to Narnia.

[@tannerskatrud7504]

Why did the rifles have bent bolts and the carbines have straight bolts? Was it a speed/ease of use thing?

[@garyh.7282]

Too bad these weren't stored better look to be in very rough condition. Thanks for the history lesson .

[@fluffydestroyer8336]

ethiopia was not the only country to avoid colonization by a european power during the 19th-20th century scramble for africa, the other being liberia. liberia doesn't really count though, as it was an old USA colony before the scramble started so nobody wanted to mess with it

[@harshbansal7982]

Hey ian Can u make a video about indian FALs

[@Jeqavy_Wavy]

This is released as I was playing as Ethopia in Hoi4. Life is ironic.

[@ryanvargus9456]

Man those rifle are rough

[@ErulianADRaghath]

Playing Hearts of Iron and starting with Ethiopia, very first thing, defeat the Italians!

[@Jackkalpakian]

It is a crown ...

[@rudyclaes9544]

Nice vid . The A with star above is not a proof mark but an inspectors stamp from a Belgium Proofbank inspector . Means that the gun went to the Proofbank witch it should , according to Belgian law . The second stamp looks like a lion in a circle , if this is the case , this is then the proof , third stamp is not clear enough to draw conclusions .

[@PUNCHYOURFACEreal]

How much is one of those carbines running for right now?

[@skepticalbadger]

Coronated? Crowned, perhaps?

[@Leander_]

Curious question: how does this deal with patent laws? Surely the Mauser designs were patented by Mauser, so FN couldn't just produce knock-off/derivates, right? Or did Mauser license these designs to FN?

[@kevinoliver3083]

I think the M1898 was out of patent by the early 1920s. Even if it wasn't Germany owed Belgium, and FN, war reparations. That could have included a production licence, if one was needed

[@worldtraveler930]

Did I hear Ian said "Ethiopian BAR" 😳🤗

[@user-pn7ks8mc8e]

I am an Ethiopian i being proud of my religious Orthodox

[@welshskies]

In this episode I love the way Ian expands the English language by creating a new word and uses it in such an effective way, "corinated". Two similar words 'crowned" and the much rarer "coronated" already exist, I suspect "corinated" means the same as "crowned" but sounds similar to "coronated" which means something a bit different. 😁😁

[@JB-rt4mx]

Well Done...history neglects Haile Selassie and the war with Mussolini...there are still popular Italian restaurants in Addis Ababa.

[@demonprinces17]

Late 80's we gave a unnamed African country all our Springfield/m1 parts. In the future are we going to see them pop up?

[@joelopezjl28]

I feel like they will be asking 2x classic firearms prices for these guns they found in caves

[@slowhand1198]

Jah, mon.

[@bloodCount8895]

Hey the rifles Classic is selling for $600-900.

[@yifruhailu5268]

Where did you these fine items? The Carbine was my first rifle given to me by my grandfather, but was confiscated by The Dergue government in 1974. I was already here in the states as a student and didn’t do anything to protect it. I will do everything in my power to buy this rifle (the carbine) if you help me to locate one.

[@AdMan-The-LabRat]

One, here are four: My brother, If you got $999-$1,999 and an FFL (or access to an FFL) you're good to go: "FN 1924 8mm Mauser Carbine Ethiopian Contract Super Rare" www.royaltigerimports.com/product-p/maus0011.htm

[@someguy2741]

Interesting. Same front sight as my greek contract berthier. If only I had a book of french rifles in order to learn more...

[@luisnunes2010]

Ethiopian mausers, yeah!

[@BigFrakkinOgre]

Neat

[@RockSolitude]

Please please please please PLEASE do a video on the Remington M51 (the original) or M53, and/or the SIG MKMO/MKPO. In other words, the hesitation lock. I really want to see a proper video on how these operate.

[@Confido13]

When a king or queen ascends the throne the word is “crowned” not “coronated”.

[@3ducs]

A coronation is the crowning of a sovereign. At least that is what the Oxford Languages dictionary states.

[@skepticalbadger]

@@3ducs Well yes, obviously. Their point is that the past participle is CROWNED not "coronated".

[@Brawl847]

A few weeks ago, I wouldn't have particularly cared about Ethiopian guns. Now after having that video about Menelik II from a few days ago: "Ethiopian? *Tell me more.* "

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Good, because I have two more about Ethiopia coming in the next two weeks. One about the 1940s, and one about the 1970s. :)

[@Brawl847]

@@ForgottenWeapons Considering the relations with Belgium that you mentioned in this video (and just the general prevalence of the FAL), I'm going to guess that the 1970s video is an Ethiopian FAL. Even if I'm wrong, I'm still looking forward to *whatever* it is.

[@MatthewDoye]

If this is the state of one the nice rifles what the heck are the beat up ones like?

[@stephens2241]

Beat up

[@billbrasky6827]

It's called patina. Jk

[@MatthewDoye]

@@billbrasky6827 patina, potato

[@HughesEnterprises]

Firewood and tomato stake grade. Classic firearms calls them “Surplus very good”

[@MatthewDoye]

@@HughesEnterprises I wasn't going to mention the name of that company. Their grades are like numismatics.

[@MBCDC1]

Seems these IO rifles are in a rough condition...

[@noyfub]

What Cartridge?

[@sskuk1095]

Ethiopian Mausers: For when your gun collection becomes exotic!

[@theblackbaron4119]

Yeah, etheopian Mauser's a combination I never expected to hear.

[@davidmk3105]

Did FN build these with a valid Mauser license or did the Belgians just build them because they could after WW1?

[@bestermanhenrik6625]

Swedish advisors, both before and after WWII 👍

[@angloausie8772]

If these are anything like the FN guns made for Columbia they will probably shoot round corners

[@Gookrak]

Iron "Lion Zion" Sights!

[@Fkyourfeelgoods]

Who is selling these? I.O?

[@richard1165]

I.O may still be sorting thru inventory, because they have them listed on their site. The majority was sold to Classic Firearms.

[@vaughanbussard1385]

Can u do Ethiopian machine guns?

[@SW-ii5gg]

Sounds painful.

[@lordofdiscordxx6952]

Very interesting mix of History and a firearm.Italian invasion used a LOT of poisonous gas shells and bombs and the poor Ethiopians had no chance.If Britain/Europe had taken a stand against Italy and defended Ethiopian independence and used military force to defeat Italian expansionism Would Hitler have carried on His path knowing their would be an immediate armed response?

[@billbrasky6827]

LordOfDiscord xx Good point. Or if they stood up to fascism is Spain.

[@demonprinces17]

Didn't say anything because they were thinking of using it to

[@curtisthomas2670]

They wanted Ethiopia weakened

[@billbrasky6827]

Someday they will probably look back and think the US should have stood up to Putin more.

[@guyfawkes938]

They did stand up, and there were actually huge repercussions against the Italians due to the War in Ethiopia. Up to that point, Mussolini was "the GOOD fascist" in the eyes of Europe of the time, who'd "nobly stopped" that warmonger Hitler in Austria, was kicking out the communists and modernising Italy. The widespread use of chemical warfare in that war was so widely decried against that a huge embargo and economic sanctions were placed against Fascist Italy by every other major European country. Mussolini, who'd been pursuing a strategy of aligning himself with Britain and France at the time, suddenly had to make a big policy change and ally with Nazi Germany, the only country left in Europe who was willing to trade with them due to being under similar sanctions. People often forget that Mussolini and Hitler weren't proper allies up to the Spanish Civil War, something which is almost entirely due to the War in Ethiopia and its consequences.

[@badpossum440]

That "shield" on the breach looks like a Torah.

[@jonasglanshed]

it is the imperial crown.

[@rediius]

Legend says the ark of the covenant and the tablets themselves are still in Ethiopia. It shows up on the imperial crest.

[@havokmusicinc]

Ethiopia is a VERY devoutly Christian country, albeit their own regional brand of orthodox. I don't know a single Ethiopian Muslim, despite knowing so many Muslims from all over the horn of Africa

[@jonasglanshed]

i.pinimg.com/originals/d9/9c/1d/d99c1d9aca89267b69a545577ac7d7c7.jpg